U.S. Embassy welcomes landmark agreement

KATHMANDU: Embassy of United States in Kathmandu has hailed the seven point landmark agreement inked between political parties on Tuesday night, to move forward the stalled peace process, including the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants.

Embassy has acclaimed the agreement reached between the top guns from UCPN-Maoist, the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, and the Madhesi Morcha leaders, calling it a breakthrough in Nepal’s peace process.

By issuing a press statement, Public Affairs Office at the Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu, has welcomed the agreement on power sharing, peace and constitution writing.

On peace process, according to the deal, 6,500 combatants would be integrated into NA in non-combative role and combatant rehabilitation package would be provided up to Rs 900,000. Relief for conflict victims and return of seized properties by Nov 23 and owners to be compensated, as the pact says. On Constitution, agreement says that the constitutional commissions to be formed within one month; Experts’ team to be formed for state restructuring issues and statute drafting in one month. On power sharing, deal says a national unity government to be formed.

The U.S. Embassy has also expressed its commitment in supporting Nepal’s peace process in the days ahead. “We encourage all those involved to move quickly to implement the agreement, and we remain committed to supporting the process as appropriate,” reads the press statement.

The Embassy has lauded all parties involved for their statesmanship and leadership in forging consensus in the crucial area of peace and statute.

Meanwhile, the United States has being claiming that Nepal’s Maoists need to completely disarm themselves, and democratize themselves in political behaviors, so that they would be removed from a terrorism blacklist.

According to AFP, in its August report “US keeps Nepal Maoists on blacklist despite new PM” says, “The Maoists are on the US Terrorism Exclusion List but not the tougher Foreign Terrorist Organization List, which would make it a crime to provide financial support to the group.”